The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-10-11
THE SQUARE ISSUE
Must Be Made in the Coming
Local Option Fight.
THE PRoHIBITIONISTS SUCCEED

yesterday morning the bill of the city council
of Atlanta proposingto amend the city charter
by providing that, in case Fulton county ever
voted wet, the sale of liquor in the city should
be restricted to certain limits, and fixing the
license at 1900, provided the ameddment was
adopted by vote of the city at its next regu-
Jar municipal election.
When the special order was reached Mr..
Howell introduced an amenement to the bill,
which, he said, was in compliance with the act
OF the city council, which, at its last meeting,
recommended that the bill pass with the
amendment, submitting it to the people with
the narrow limits instead of the half mile
limits
81 am aware" he continued "that I will
have TO contend with two things which will
seriously interfere with the passage of this
bill. First, a very thin house, and second,
with the prejudice that never stops to con-
slider Justice, when questions involving that
prejudice are being acted on.'
MIR. Howell urged the passage of this bill in
Che name of the city council of Atlanta, and
81 OF the conservative citizens of both sides, who
are anxious that this continuous pickering and
turmoil should be put at an end. He called
attention to the fact that the next local option
election was but little over month off, that
at the last election, the city itself had gone
wet by majority of three hundred. With
the sentiment so evenly divided, it was hard
was an anti-prohibitonist he believed the law
ought to be enforced, and has always favored
ITS strongest and most stringent enforcement.
But no man could deny that the law was con-
ainually evaded, and that whisky drinking had
not been at all diminished. "On account of
a great many acts which have been committed
during the past two years. the good people of
this town have come to the conclusion that
they will put stop TO this state of things, and
settle this question on a reasonable and just
basis at the next election.
"There is scarcely question" Mr.. Howell
confined. "as to how Fulton county will 90 at
fhat election, and it was looking to this end
shat this bill was introduced providing, in
case the county did go wet, a remedy to avoid
the unrestricted sale of liquor. Ali good peo-
pie unite in this idea, that if the town goes wet
She sale of liquor must be put under certain
restrictions. If the county goes dry in the
next election, the bill in no wise applies, but
if it goes wet the bill simply provides that the
sale of liquor shall be made under certain re-
strctons mentioned in the bill, and shall be
under direct and close police surveillance. /
am an anti-prohibitionist because l believe it
is right, but l am not willing that the city
shall go back to the unboundcd and unro-
stricted sale of whisky. The conservative ele-
Snent of both sides join in asking you TO give
chem the opportunity to restrict the sale in
case the county goes wet All good men unite
in this, but there is q certain class of eXtrem-
ists who will never agree to anything looking
so a reasonable and Just settlement. Why in
the committee ON corporations. when
Ehis question was under discussion
prominent minister of the gospel, who has
always conSplcuOuSlY advocated the cause of
prohibition, stated that rather than have this
restriction bill he would prefer to see the city
deluged in whisky by an unrestricted sale!
My God, gentlemenl See the spirit that we
Nave to contend against and see the spirit that
The good conservative people of this town asks
you to meet and check. You will be told by
my colleague who follows me (Mr. Bray that
Neither the prohibitionists nor the anti-prohi-
bitionists want this bill. In reply to this l
have only to state that I have yet to find the
anti-prohibitionist in this city who is unwill-
ing that the bill should pass with the amend
ment submitting it to the people"
81 have lived in Atlanta almost all my life,
and expect to spend the remainder of my days
here. Far be it from me to urge anything that
would inuue to the in jury OF Atlanta, but in my
heart believe that this is the proper solution
of an ever vexing question, and the basis on
which all good citizens can unite in restoring
harmony in our city affairs. Give the people
3he right to say whether they shall restrain the
sale of liquor to certain limits ornot. Nothing
could be fairer than this. l regret that certain
gentlemen from the city representing the other
side should fatty place their issue on the
ground that they are afraid to go before the
people ON this question. | am not afraid TO
trust the peopleon it, and beg you to give
them the right to say what they will do on this
matter"
Mr.. Bray-'I regret to differ from my col
league, While there is wide difference be-
tween us on this question, there is no personal
difference between us.
"Under the general local option law the queg-
&ion was submitted to the voters of Fulton
county. The fight was warm and gallant
one and resulted i'll majority of 225 for prohi-
bition. That the law has been eyaded is no
concern of this body Bad men will violate
She law anywhere. The people of Fulton
county settled the question at the polls, and
all parties should have grounded their arms.
1T was not done. elimination and reCrimina-
tion were INDUCED in, iniuring the material
5nteresls and good feeling of the city.
THE people of Fulton county want to stand
10y the act. The prohibitionists are opposed to
the pending bill Seven-tenths of the anti
prohibitiOnists are opposed to it. l do not
speak unadvisedly, but from personal contact
with the people. W. Il. Hill, of the firm of
Cox, Hill ~ Thompson, told me: You are
hight
nigh taxation. 1t violates the spirit OF the
constitution. High license means high dives
for the center, but no low dives. 1t means
to give to the monied few the right to sell
whisky"
Mr.. Touchdown YOU explain why you
object to submittingit to a vote of the people,"
Mr.. Bray am not opposed to the people
voting. But am opposed to asking man to
make fool of himself, to stultify himself. The
bill is unjust and unequal in its operation. 1t
is legsiatng for a few and is only a subtcriuge,
The friends of the bill are not willing to trust
the people, for they want to put it (hell Ii
cense) in the organic law. ] am not afraid to
trust the people, for they will never 20 back to
the unrestricted sale of whisky. The bill is
class legislation. / am democrat and opposed
to monopoly of all kinds especially
monopoly Of dives. An election will be held
on the 26th of November. do not want to
see Atlanta torn up by two elections, and the
strife continued. ! have no doubt about it, for
I know and believe that a majority Of the peo-
pie do not want this bill. The prohibitionists
are unit in opposition to the bill. Those anti
prohibitionists, who do not expect 10 reap
benefit from this monopoly, are not in favor OF
this bill.
"In the prohibition election South Bend dis
frict polled 800 votes, whereas her voting
strength is 500. This shows that 500 Atlanta
votes voted there, and that the prohibitonsts
had q majority in the city The vote in the
CITY council was to &, Mr. Hemphill, pro-
hihitionist, was not there, but lodged the
vote.
MI Howell-"Mr. Ilcmphill stated that he
was not opposed to the amendment submitting
she bill to the people, and when the bill was
first before the council he voted fer the mar
gov limits"
Mr. Bray-"Tlen Jet him 60 to council and
vote that way. Mr.. Dorsey, another prohbl-
zionist, was absent.
On the canvas for representative. I an